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Moscow says JPMorgan stops processing Russia grain payments

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

U.S. bank JPMorgan has stopped processing payments for the Russian Agricultural Bank, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday.The Russian Agricultural Bank, or Rosselkhozbank, was cut off from the SWIFT international payments system by the European Union last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Reuters, JPMorgan had been handling some Russian grain export payments in recent months.“The Western capitals and the U.N. tried to present the direct channel established between Rosselkhozbank and American JPMorgan as an alternative to [the SWIFT system], but even this channel was cut off on August 2,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement.The U.S. State Department and JPMorgan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Russia killed off the Black Sea Grain Initiative — a U.N.-brokered accord that had allowed Ukraine to export tens of millions of tons of grains and oilseeds over t...

The third Philippine ferry accident in over a week leaves 1 person dead and about 100 rescued

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — One person died and more than 100 had to be rescued after a ferry in the central Philippines struck floating debris at sea and took on water Saturday, police said. The accident involving the King Sto. Nino 7, which was carrying 117 people, was the third to hit the country in just over a week, police said.All those on board were rescued, except for a female passenger who suffered a heart attack and died during the scramble for safety as water gushed into the wooden-hulled vessel in sunny weather off the island town of Corcuera in Romblon province, officials said.Sea accidents are common in the Philippines because of frequent storms, poorly maintained boats, overcrowding and weak enforcement of safety regulations. After some passengers on the King Sto. Nino 7 managed to call for help, coast guard personnel and nearby ferry boats approached to rescue the 112 passengers and five crew members, who were brought to a nearby village, Corcuera police chief Capt. Ro...

Calls to make swimming lessons more available in Quebec after deadly year on water

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

MONTREAL — A charity that advocates for water safety is calling on the Quebec government to offer swimming lessons more widely — especially to recent immigrants — as drownings in the province are up 30 per cent over the same period last year.It has been a particularly deadly year on the water in Quebec, where more than a third of all drownings reported in Canada in 2023 have occurred. Quebec has reported 54 drownings so far in 2023, but this year’s number has been inflated by a few incidents that resulted in multiple deaths.Raynald Hawkins, general manager of the Lifesaving Society’s Quebec branch, says the Swim to Survive program — delivered by his charity — should be offered to kids in grades 3 and 4 more widely in Quebec. In Ontario, approximately 100,000 kids take part in the program yearly; in Quebec, between 12,000 and 15,000 take part every year.The Quebec Education Department offers a grant for schools interested in the program, which teaches kids minimum skills ...

Perseid meteor shower viewing parties are set across Minnesota next week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

People across Minnesota will be turning their heads to the sky in unison next week to watch the Perseid meteor shower at star-watching parties statewide.Assuming, of course, it’s not raining.A brilliant Perseid meteor called a fireball. (Courtesy of NASA)The annual, outdoor night “Statewide Star Party” phenomenon has grown in recent years with events at Voyageurs National Park, at state parks along the North Shore, in Duluth and elsewhere. Because the Perseids should be especially visible this year, star party-viewing is expected to be an even bigger draw.Star parties are aimed at beginner skywatchers with mentorship by experienced astronomers. Many of the events include daytime presentations, discussions on astronomy books and films as well as telescopes and binoculars on-site for after-sunset sky watching.The events are hosted by schools, nature centers, colleges, libraries, museums, parks and other local organizations. All events are family-friendly and include free outdoor sky w...

Back-to-School Expo for students in St. Louis public schools

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

ST.LOUIS -- Today starting at 10 a.m. at the Dome of America Center marks the Urban League's annual back-to-school expo, where students in the St. Louis public school district find support and inspiration as they prepare to return to classes in two weeks. The Urban League of the Metropolitan Area and St. Louis Public Schools have collaborated to organize this event, bringing together over 100 vendors under one roof at the dome. This expo stands as one of the largest of its kind in the state of Missouri.A wide range of offerings awaits the students at the expo. From free haircuts to complimentary school supplies, they can also receive immunizations and even free groceries. It's like a comprehensive back-to-school starter pack, designed to equip students with essentials for the upcoming academic year. Moreover, entertainment is scheduled for later in the morning, adding a sense of excitement and celebration to the event. The Urban League and St. Louis Public Schools are dedicated to e...

Two overnight shootings in south St. Louis under investigation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Police are investigating two shootings that happened overnight in south St. Louis. Around 11:30 last night, a man was shot in the arm on South Grand near Habitat For Humanity. Then, just after 3 this morning, a man got shot in the leg in the Holly Hills neighborhood. It's about two miles south of the first shooting. Both men were taken to the hospital. The shootings don't appear to be connected. It's unclear if any suspects are in custody.

Severe storm concerns loom for Sunday afternoon and evening

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Showers and storms will exit to the east this morning, and then the rest of the day should be dry. A lot of clouds linger through much of the day, with a gradual decrease in cloud cover through the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Partly cloudy with a lot of dry time overnight, with lows near 70. Shower and storm chances return early Sunday morning, and storm chances increase for the afternoon and evening, especially in eastern MO and western IL, ahead of a cold front. For the afternoon and evening storms, there is concern for severe weather, with all threats (hail, wind, brief tornado) possible.

Grading the Week: Did Nathaniel Hackett and his magic goatee put wicked curse on Broncos coach Sean Payton?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

Full disclosure: The new kids in the Grading The Week offices are a superstitious, cowardly lot.We also tend to not take former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett (stop laughing!) very seriously, and especially not too seriously when Big Nate (I mean it!) steps in front of the Big Apple cameras and starts carping (stop!) about “codes” and “glass houses” (I will turn this column around, I mean it!) while simultaneously wearing a goatee that makes him look less like his hero Han Solo … and more like an amateur magician.That said, we’re starting to wonder if Hackett was onto something. And also into something.And if some kind of weird, mystical NFL forces — perhaps the kind Nate uses in his new magic act — would explain, at least in part, the bizarrely awful karma that hit Dove Valley this past week.Sean Payton’s football karma — DFor the record, GTW does not disagree with pretty much anything Payton told USA Today’s Jarrett Bell. Well, except for maybe the “playoff team” part. But we’ll ...

Opinion: Donald Trump and his enemies take bad faith for granted

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

At the core of the momentous decision to indict former President Donald Trump for conspiring to overthrow the 2020 election are questions of good faith — about both the accuser and the accused. Did Trump knowingly lie about electoral fraud to stay in office? Is Jack Smith, the special counsel who brought the case, acting from an impartial commitment to enforce the law?The country seems irreconcilably divided on these points. Trump’s allies and enemies take the other side’s bad faith for granted. His supporters say he acted as he did because he believed the election was stolen, and they see the prosecution as political. His opponents are equally certain of Trump’s dishonesty and Smith’s fair-mindedness.There’s no conversation across this divide, because neither side will grant any plausibility to the other’s position. This collapse of communication — extending not just to disagreements about policy but to the very foundations of orderly government — is a real and mounting threat to A...

Opinion: Where is the urgency to treat the 65 million with long COVID?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

In a world where most pandemic safety protocols have evaporated, where is the sense of urgency to treat, or at the very least support, people with long COVID?Early in the pandemic, we saw significant mobilization of the health care infrastructure across the world to determine how to prevent and treat COVID-19, leading to substantial reduction in morbidity and mortality. Conversely, the response to long COVID has been muted. In the rush to declare the pandemic over, the low quality of life experienced by millions with long COVID has apparently been deemed acceptable. It is not acceptable.My firsthand knowledge of long COVID began in July 2020. Social distancing protocols were still in effect, masks were mandated in most of the country, and vaccines for the “novel coronavirus” were a distant hope. This was when I contracted COVID-19. I had the usual symptoms of fever, loss of taste and smell, and shortness of breath. But as my symptoms lingered even weeks later, I wondered when I woul...